Who leads the new RC Lens coaching staff?

Lens confirmed on Wednesday the formation of a full staff centred on German coach Dino Toppmöller, appointed on June 16. Alongside the head coach, three new assistants – Albanian Ervin Skela, Portuguese Nelson Morgado and former captain Yannick Cahuzac – have joined the team. The former staff of Pierre Sage, whose deputy Jamal Alioui left for Crystal Palace, has therefore been completely reshuffled.

Which positions remain unchanged?

Bilal Hamdi, Éric Sikora and goalkeeper coach Cédric Berthelin keep their roles, as does performance manager Guillaume Ravé. This continuity aims to preserve the momentum that has kept Lens in 2nd place in Ligue 1 with 70 points after 34 games (22 wins, 4 draws, 8 losses). The club has scored 66 goals and conceded 35, a +31 goal difference.

When will the players resume training?

Training resumes on Thursday, after two days of medical and physical tests. The goal is to keep the club’s title chase alive, now 6 points behind leaders Paris Saint‑Germain. The latest result, a 3‑1 win over Nice on May 22 2026, shows the current form: a four‑game winning streak, with the last five matches reading 4W‑0D‑1L.

What immediate challenges face the staff?

The new technical team must cope with the absence of Bosnian international Nidal Čelik, currently sidelined. At the same time, it must quickly integrate the fresh ideas of Skela, Morgado and Cahuzac while maintaining the cohesion built by the permanent members. The task is sizable: turn the good momentum into decisive performances to close the gap with PSG and chase the title.

What are the prospects ahead?

The upcoming schedule features key clashes against Lyon and Marseille, where every point matters. If the staff can sustain the intensity shown in the recent Nice match, Lens could cement its status as a serious challenger. Monitoring Čelik’s recovery and the adaptation of the new assistants will be the key indicators over the next weeks.